2 Timothy 3:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

NIV: persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

NASB: persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!

CSB: along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured--and yet the Lord rescued me from them all.

NLT: You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra — but the Lord rescued me from all of it.

KJV: Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

NKJV: persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.

The previous verse listed seven traits in which Timothy "followed" Paul. Paul's meaning is that Timothy has both direct personal knowledge, and experience, with these things. He knows he can trust Paul's message, because he has seen Paul act out the very things he is teaching others. Verse 11 adds that Timothy also had close association with Paul's persecution in places like Antioch, Lystra, and Iconium. Timothy was present in at least some of Paul's persecutions (Acts 16). Regardless of the problems, Paul could say "the Lord rescued me."

In Pisidia Antioch, religious opponents stirred up persecution to chase Paul out of the city (Acts 13:50–51). Lystra was even worse; Paul was stoned until the crowd thought he was dead, and then dumped outside of the city (Acts 14:19). Timothy was from Lystra and may have witnessed this event (Acts 16:1). It was here that Timothy joined Paul and became a missionary with him.

Second Timothy 3:10–17 draws a strong contrast between the worldly, wicked behaviors of false teachers, and the conduct Timothy has seen from Paul. Not only has Timothy seen Paul's suffering for the sake of Christ first-hand, he has often experienced it alongside his friend, as well. This adds to the validity of Paul's teachings, which he strongly encourages Timothy to hold to. Above all, Timothy is to rely on the most secure, reliable, unchanging defense against error and false teaching: the ''God-breathed,'' inspired, written Scriptures.

Chapter 3 presents two sections with very different themes. In the first, Paul describes in detail the sins associated with apostasy: the abandonment of truth. Echoing the themes of prior chapters, Paul instructs Timothy to avoid not only these sins, but the people who participate in them. In the second section, Paul draws a contrast between these false teachers and his own example, as well as the faithful conduct of Timothy. Paul's capstone advice against false teaching and apostasy is the written word of God: the most powerful resource for any Christian leader.

In prior chapters, Paul has encouraged Timothy through an appeal to his lifelong spiritual heritage. He has also instructed Timothy to remain focused on the work of God, rather than pointless bickering. Here, Paul will present more warnings about the attitude of false teachers and those who reject God in favor of their own preferences. Just as he taught previously, Paul warns Timothy in no uncertain terms to avoid these behaviors and those who participate in them. This chapter is the high point of Paul's letter, leading to his final instructions to Timothy found in chapter 4.

Second Timothy is the last New Testament letter written by Paul. Paul writes these words while awaiting execution by Rome. At this time, around AD 67, Timothy was leading the church in Ephesus. Paul writes to Timothy in order to encourage him. Paul is facing the worst of all hardships: his own impending death. So, he encourages Timothy to stand strong in his faith, with a reliance on the written Word of God. This letter echoes many of the themes Paul uses in his other letters.